Tuk tuk to Belém

March 16, 2020: Our last day in Portugal.

Our trip to Portugal was winding down and after days of passing tuk tuk tours, we decided why not, let’s give it a try! While walking back through Praça do Comercio, we stopped to talk to a lady who was trying to get us to take a tour. While giving us the price rundown and what it included, we asked if we could combine a stop in Lisbon with the tour to Belém. She quickly agreed so away we went!

Before heading to Belém we stopped by the Elevador da Bica.

Elevador da Bica.

It was a fun, touristy spot but it was one I wanted to check off the list. After snapping a few photos, we headed back to the tuk tuk and off to Belém we went!

First stop: Pasteis de Belém! Our tuk tuk driver skipped the line and got us some yummy traditional Portuguese tarts. We had some a few nights before but they weren’t quite as good as these. This bakery has been hand making these tarts using the same recipe since 1837!

Onward to Mosteiro dos Jeronimos! We couldn’t go in due to Covid but we were able to take in the beautiful exterior.

Next, we arrived at Belém Tower, the main attraction. Built between 1514 and 1519, the tower is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and was once used as a defense system. The tide was out when we visited so you could scramble across the rocky ground and get a cool side view!

Two stops left: Padrao dos Descobrimentos (Monument to Maritime Explorers) and MAAT, a museum with a beautiful, modern facade.

I hate that I don’t remember our drivers name! She was so nice and patient with us! But I do remember she had recently relocated to Lisbon from Brazil. We needed to find an ATM so she helped up find one and took us back to Alfama, the neighborhood where we stayed. It was a really pleasant experience, as our whole trip had been! There are certainly cheaper ways to visit Belém but the tuk tuk experience is neat and you get dropped at each attraction’s doorstep.

When you’re in Lisbon, hop in a tuk tuk and spend 1/2 - 1 day in Belém.

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Things I’ve already learned from more blogging:

-Take pictures of the small things - the delicious bite size tarts

-Take pictures of the bigger things - our tuk tuk driver and the tuk tuk itself

-Stick to a plan - I planned on going to Belém since I started trip planning. For some reason, I mentioned to my friends that Belém wasn’t really worth a visit. I was probably tired so it seemed like too much work. But thankfully we came across our awesome driver and took the tour. It warrants at least 1/2 a day.